Trunk-rack guard



P. A. BENEDICT Y TRUNK RACK GUARD Filed July 22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 "EIZZ'Or:

Oct. 21, 1930. P. A. BENEDICT 1,778,788

TRUN RA/CK GUARD Fi led July 22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllll] Even 2'07:

J u? flfleneaid Patented Oct. 2 1,

- UNITED STATES I firm-H. FBENEDICT" ms L i IFORNIA:

i TRUNK-RACK GUARD i v [The usual bumperiwhicha is used on the rear ends of some makes of automobiles, does not extend rearwardly sufficiently to protect A I against. an automobile approachingfrom the 6 rear, colliding with anddamaging the rack and the trunk or other luggage carried there- 7 on and it is the primary object of this invention to provide an auxiliary trunk rack guard which .eo-operates with the usualv "lobumper to reduce this hazard anddamage. A further object is to provide a guard of said type which can be folded back out of the way when a trunk or other article is not oar-' ried and the usual rack swung up; Still further objects are simplified construction and greater effectiveness in use. V

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the rear end of an automobile equipped with my improvement when in use; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved trunk rack guard in readiness to be applied to an automobile'for use, F ig.

3 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2, when applied to the usual-automo- J f In the drawings, A indicates a detail portion of the rear end of the chassis of an automobile on which is hinged at 10 to fold. up in the usual manner, a horizontal trunk rack B, said rack being supported by the usual 1% foldable arms such as 11. This rack is shown 7 carrying a trunk C but is adaptedto carry any other luggage desired. Also mounted upon said chassis is the usual main bumper or guard D, which may be of any'construction desired, that shown having a pair of horizontal, vertically spaced spring guards 12 and 13, which extendtransversely below the trunk rack, when the latter is turned downvinto the position shown in Fig. 1. It

7 59 will be noted that when the rack 'is in the a ;App1ieation filed July 22,

1929. .seaa No. 380,206}. a i f j j position .just noted it extends I 'rearwardly from thema'in bumper andis not'proteoted thereby, it and thetrunk or other'luggage which itfcarriesbe'ing exposed and subject, ,7 to collision from the rearwithout any pro-Q55 tection. I w 7 Q My invention provides an auxiliary-guard or bumper. which extends rearwardly from and protects the trunk rackandwhich can'be I I folded back out oi thej'way when the rack is I v v i not used to perform its function; This auxiliary guard as shown con'si sts of two spring horizontal guard members'E and F, the member E beinghinged and fastened to each member of a'pair'of bracketsfGand H by the'bolts 1 I 14-" and 15 andthe sup plemental member F being rigidly secured to each member of'a pair'ot brackets by a bolt These brackets are adapted to be secured "to the back faces ofthe body portion of thespring guardsi12 and 13 near the oppo'site sides of the;vehiole by the cleats 17gand bolts 18, thus holding the spring guard membersE and]? extending across therearend of thevehicle at" the rear of the usualguard or bumperD and with the upper member E1 extending'backot the rack B in: a positionlprotecting said rack and the V trunk or luggage which it icarries against collisionfromthe reari Each bracket Gor Hconsists of a vertically disposedangle plate, thefrontor' transverse side 24 of which issecured'by said bolt 18 to-the members12 and 13 of the bumper D andthe out or longitudinal side'25 ofwhich is formed With-an inturned flange 26 to which flanges'aichbolt 16is secured, and with a notch 19to'r ec'eive and, assist in .holding the supplemental or lower guardmember" F firmly in place. The, opposite 'ends 20 and 21 of supplemental guard member F'are bent rearwardly'and are turned inwardly at 22 and 23 to form' bear ings against the rear faceof the lower'mema her 13 of the main buinper. I

In this'manner a rigid. structure is produced on the main bumper D which forms a substantial structure for supportin'g the fold- I able auxiliary guard member E. 'Said. fold able guard member has a horizontal lateral, body portion 27 formed at its opposite ends with a pair of loops 28 and 29,ter'minati'ng 10 p in'a pair of forwardly extending arms 30 and 31, the ends of which are secured rigidly to support the guard member E in substantially horizontal position by pairs of said bolts lt and 15, when said guard member is extended for use to protect the trunk rack. When it is desiredto fold the auxiliary guard member up into thev broken line pos'itionj (see Fig. 1)

after the trunk rack has been turned back and its use discontinued, the bolts 14 in the opposite bracket 'members are remoYfiCliandy said guard member is swung up on the'bolts .iary spring guard member E is rigidlyse- V i cured tothe bracketmemberssuch asI (see- Figs. 5 and v6) by thefpairs of bolts such as 15 as pivots- When in superior (brokenl'i-nfin position, the bolts 14 are reinserted through;

In the alternative construction the auxilend collision, and a pair of brackets adapted to be secured to said main bumper and upon which said auxiliary guard is foldable upwardly when said rack is turned forwardly;

4. In combination with an automobile I chassis having a luggage. carrying rack on its rear end' and a main bumperacross said 7 chassis and below said' rack, said rackbeing foldably supported to turn forwardly, an auxiliary guard. across said rear endand exztending rear wardly beyond said rack to'protect the" latter when turned. down'againstf .rearendcollision,a pair of brackets adapted to be secured to said main bumper and-u on which said auxiliary guard is hinged to old upwardly when said rack is turned forwardly and a'supplemeiital auxiliary guard across" said rar end and rigidly'secured to said brackets below said foldable auxiliary guard;

In witnesswliereof, I to this specification.

havesigned; my name "PAULfA: BENEDICT;

35-vand36, said bracket members being in 7 turn secured to the. main bumper Din the same manner as abovedescribed bythe cleat I 17 and bolt 18 for each bracket. The spring guard member'E is adapted-to perform the same function in both the preferred'and alternative structures only in the alternative construction it does not swing up nor is the lower auxiliary spring guard F described above employed. i V I 7 Further changes and modifications in details of construction are contemplated within the spirit of my. invention. v I I I claim: a

1. In combination; with an chassis having a luggage carrying rack on its rear end and a main bumper across sald chassis and below saidrack, an auxiliary guard across said rearend and extending rearwardly beyond said rack to protect the latter and its load from rear end collision. 2. In combination with an automobile chassis having a luggagecarrying rack on I its rear end and a main bumper across said chassis and below sald rack, said rack being auxiliaryguard across. said rearfend and extendmg rearwardly beyond sald ra'cki'to foldablysupp0rtedto turn forwardly, and

protect the latter when turned down against rear end collision, said auxiliaryguardbeing foldable upwardly when said rack is turned forwardly.

3. In combination with an automobile chassis havinga luggage carrying 'rackon-its rear end and a main bumper across said chassis and'below said rack, said rack being foldably' supported to turn forwardly, an

auxiliary guard across said rear. end and extendingrearwardly beyond said rack-topro- V v tect the latter when turned down against rear 

